School of Computer Science
Breaking new ground in the theory and practice of computational systems and their applications, the School of Computer Science is a progressive, inclusive department, providing specialist teaching and conducting world-leading research in fundamental and applied computer science.
The Research Excellence Framework 2021 ranked us 3rd in the UK for GPA and for 4* research.
The University of Birmingham has also been named Daily Mail University of the Year 2027, recognising its excellence in student outcomes and experience, educational innovation, and investment in the future.
The school’s research areas include, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics, Theory of Computation, Security and Privacy, Computational Life Sciences and Human-centred Computing. The demand for computer scientists is ever-growing in a modern world, and we can equip you with the knowledge to succeed.
Research areas
Our research is structured around several key themes:
- Science for AI & AI for Science: This research area is dedicated to pioneering computer systems capable of replicating and enhancing human-level decision-making. By combining advanced AI, Machine Learning, and Cognitive Modelling, the work focuses on building systems that can reason under uncertainty, evaluate complex trade-offs, and make autonomous choices that align with human goals, ethics, and operational contexts.
- Theoretical Computer Science: Birmingham hosts one of the largest global research groups dedicated to the logical and mathematical foundations of Computer Science. By applying advanced formal techniques to deep theoretical questions, the team drives fundamental innovations across areas such as algorithmic complexity, programming language semantics, and automated system verification.
- Cyber Security and Privacy: Carrying out research on ways to secure modern technologies, such as improving vehicle security against keyless entry vulnerabilities. By developing techniques for secure code execution, sensor protection, and robust communication protocols, the theme aims to ensure that the rapid evolution of transport technology does not come at the expense of safety or privacy.
- Socio-Technical Systems: Examining the societal impacts of advanced computing through cross-disciplinary collaboration and partnerships with colleagues across Computer Science, Law, Government and Politics, Psychology, and other academic departments throughout the university.
- Perception, Language, Action: The research theme brings together researchers in the areas of Computer Vision, Imaging, Natural Language Processing, Embedded Robotics, and Cognitive Science. By sharing methodologies and large-scale AI models, the theme bridges these disciplines to advance integrated systems that combine perception, language, and physical action.
The school is active in the academic community, hosting regular seminar series and collaborating on larger regional and national events such as the Midlands Graduate School in the Foundations of Computing Science (MGS) and the Yorkshire and Midlands Category Theory Seminar (YaMCATS).
For further information, please visit the School of Computer Science website.